Compliance of citizens and companies with rules in society is an issue of ongoing importance for policy makers and academics. Scientific research from a variety of academic fields has led to insights which can be used by policy makers and enforcement organizations. Some of these insights and practical implications are covered in this book.

Modern society is riddled with laws and rules. However, it does not go without saying that people and organizations indeed will comply with those rules. Non-compliance with certain rules may well be an attractive option for some of them, in some circumstances. It is then the task of enforcing agencies to investigate whether rules are complied with, and when necessary prosecute or sanction non-compliers. However, law enforcement has its price as well, and it may well be that reaching a level of punishment threat high enough to guarantee compliance is simply out of reach, either for reasons of direct costs or for reasons of indirect costs. Consequently, law enforcement agencies are interested in ways of enhancing compliance other than by strict control-and-punishment.

Is it possible to seduce people or organizations to comply with rules voluntary, by means of positive incentives, or through norm reinforcement, or otherwise? How can an enforcement agency manage an optimal mix of deterrence and positive incentives in order to maintain compliance at a satisfactory level without construction a smooth functioning of the rule addressees?

This volume presents the edited version of papers presented on the conference “Managing and Maintaining Compliance”, held in Leiden, The Netherlands, April 2006. The book serves as an insightful and useful companion for policy makers and scholars in the field of compliance.

Target group

Academics